Plectranthus plant named ‘Nico’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Plectranthus plant named ‘Nico’, characterized by its upright bushy form, foliage with dark green upper surface and purple lower surface and vigorous growth habit.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Plectranthus ambaiuigus.

VARlETY DENOMINATION

Nico.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Plectranthus plant,hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Nico’. The new cultivarwas discovered as a mutation of an unnamed Plectranthus ambaiuigusselection (not patented) in Rheinfelden, Germany in 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal or stem cuttingstaken during 2000-2001 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixedand retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

(a) Exhibits an upright bushy form;

(b) forms dark green foliage with dark purple underside; and

(c) exhibits a vigorous growth habit.

‘Nico’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditionsto date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to thePlectranthus variety ‘Variegata’ (not patented) the new cultivar is morecompact and upright and has solid green foliage color, whereas‘Variegata’ has green and cream variegated foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. The plants weregrown in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., USA.

The first photograph illustrates the general growth habit of the newcultivar.

The second photograph illustrates a close up of the leaves of the newcultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.The color values were determined on Jul. 27, 2001 in West Chicago, Ill.The readings were taken between 10:00 and 11:45 p.m. under natural lightconditions. The plants were produced from cuttings taken from stockplants and were grown under greenhouse conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice while utilizing a soilless growth medium andmaintaining temperatures of approximately 72° F. during the day andapproximately 65° F. during the night. Plants used for the followingdescriptions and measurements were grown for sixteen (16) weeks fromrooted cuttings.

Botanical classification: Plectranthus ambaiuigus cultivar ‘Nico’.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal tip.

Time to form roots.—Approximately 21-28 days.

Plant description:

Crop time.—Eight to eleven weeks in a 20 cm pot.

General appearance and form.13 Upright bushy shrub.

Plant height.—Approximately 44.3 cm.

Plant spread.—Approximately 36.4 cm.

Number of branches.—Average of 6 main branches with approximately 13leaves per branch.

Branch.—Shape: Square. Diameter: Approximately 3 mm. Color: 137C.Texture: Densely covered with hairs of darker than 71A, especially alongedges.

Internode length.—At third node from tip: Approximately 3.5 cm.

Foliage description:

Form.—Simple.

Shape.—Ovate.

Margin.—Crenate.

Apex.—Sharply acute.

Base.—Attenuate.

Arrangement.—Opposite.

Venation pattern.—Reticulate.

Surface.—Appearance: Shiny. Texture: Upper and lower surfaces:Papillose-hispid.

Color of young foliage.—Upper surface: 137A. Lower surface: 71A with 1mm of 137C along edges.

Color of mature foliage.—Upper surface: 137A with midvein of 71A andveins of 137C. Lower surface: 71A with midvein and veins of darker than71A.

Size.—Approximately 9.8 cm in length and approximately 7.3 cm in width.

Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3 mm.Color: 71B. Texture: Densely covered with hairs of 71A.

Flower description: Flower production was not observed.

Seed production: Seed production was not observed.

Disease resistance: Disease resistance has not been observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Plectranthus plant named‘Nico’ substantially as herein shown and described, which: (a) exhibitsan upright bushy form; (b) forms dark green foliage with dark purpleunder surface; and (c) exhibits a vigorous growth habit.